TEHRAN: Ali Khamenei, the leader of Iran, has recently warned that any war initiated by the United States would escalate into a regional conflict. According to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) state media, Khamenei made the remarks on Sunday, during a meeting with several citizens in Tehran, where he stated, “We are not the aggressors and do not wish to attack any country, but the Iranian nation will deliver a strong blow to anyone who attacks or harasses us.” Referring to U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats, he added that Washington has previously spoken of military options. Khamenei emphasized that threats to deploy warships and military forces cannot intimidate the Iranian people, and such pressures will have no effect on Tehran’s stance. The Iranian leader described recent protests in the country as a “sedition,” likening them to a coup. He claimed that the goal of these protests was to destroy critical and influential centers within Iran’s governance structure. In response, Trump has repeatedly threatened Tehran with a “very hard blow” and military action following the suppression of protests in Iran. Concurrently, tensions have escalated, with the U.S. bolstering its military presence in the Middle East by deploying the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln along with its strike group to the region. Trump stated that a significant force has been dispatched toward Iran, expressing hope that Washington would not be compelled to use that force.
